It was a great ride: After two decades of churning out bubble gum rap and crafting memorable hits for such artists as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Xscape and Da Brat, music producer-turned rapper Jermaine Dupri has come full circle.

The pint sized former rap mogul now finds himself staring at an uncertain future as he starts over at square 1 with a downsized version of So So Def, the independent label that made him a household name.

The 90s were heady days for Jermaine Dupri who struck gold and then platinum with a mixture of pop-rap that Atlanta has become known for. But few people knew then that JD, as he likes to be known, did not craft those hits himself.

Like fellow Atlanta producer Dallas Austin, JD kept a team of virtually unknown producers on his payroll, and they did most of the work for him.

That’s not unusual in a music industry that is dominated by narcissists who routinely take credit for other people’s work.

Big name producers, such as Diddy and JD, are often up all night clubbing, and making it rain on botoxed strippers who they share champagne breakfasts with in random hotel rooms at 8 in the morning. All the while, the unknown producers, who make pennies on the dollar, craft the hits that earn the big name producers their Grammys.

This explains why “producer” Sean Combs put out so many hits early on in his career, but he couldn’t make a hit now if his life depended on it. The same goes for JD who took his So So Def label independent last year after being dumped from Island Records.

According to Creative Loafing, JD is bitter now that he has no major label to call home. No longer able to splurge on the exorbitant $8,000-a-month rental fees, he took down his infamous “Afro man” billboard alongside I-85 downtown. The one that greeted out-of-state visitors driving into Atlanta from Hartsfield airport.

Dupri, 36, also laid off (or fired) most of his staff and now operates So So Def out of his Southside studios in Buckhead with a skeleton crew of 3.

Gone is the big money label budget and all the perks that went along with being signed to a major label. If you don’t have a major label budget, then you can’t pay producers. This is when a producer’s weaknesses — and lack of raw talent – is exposed for the world to see.

Also gone is the main reason why Dupri’s name stayed on everyone lips for so long: Janet Jackson. Sadly JD is in denial, refusing to admit that their relationship is over.

According to Creative Loafing, JD seems to deny that the pair have broken up, despite numerous reports to the contrary last year. “That’s an assumption,” he says.

The failures began multiplying, culminating In 2008, when JD executive produced his then girlfriend Janet’s Discipline album. The album failed to go gold and Janet’s contract was not renewed at Island. Some say JD destroyed Janet jackson’s career by selfishly elevating his own career above hers. Even if that wasn’t true, others took notice of his failures.

In an interview with VIBE magazine, JD struck out at longtime pal Usher, calling him “disrespectful” for not letting him executive produce his album after the success of Confessions.

Insiders accused JD of being too cocky for his own good. They said he was behind the times because he continued to glorify the bling lifestyle, lavish spending and material wealth, while record sales continued to plummet.

JD bristles at such criticism that he is behind the times. He points to his use of digital technology, such as YouTube, to discover the next big thing. For the past few years, JD has focused his efforts on making singer Dondria a star. Dondria is a sassy, immature artist who sounds like a young Whitney Houston, but without the pipes.

After years of sitting on the shelf, her debut album, Dondria vs. Phatfffat, will finally drop on August 17. The Creative Loafing article says the label “didn’t even so much as listen to Dondria,” which explains why her debut album has been delayed for so long.

Also on the back burner is an album from Trey Songz’s rumored condom tester, Brandon Hines. Nowadays JD reminisces on the way things used to be back in the champagne and caviar days when he was really living the life:

“The city’s strip clubs are no longer reliable testing grounds for new music,” he gripes. “That’s been destroyed with payola. Now [a DJ] will play his man’s new song, or a record somebody paying him to play.”

Meanwhile Dupri, who fancies himself to be a reborn club DJ, spins records in local nightclubs run by club promoter Alex Gidewon of AG Entertainment Group. JD mainly plays his man’s new song, or a record that somebody pays him to play.

Meanwhile Dupri, who fancies himself to be a reborn club DJ, spins records in local nightclubs run by club promoter Alex Gidewon of AG Entertainment Group. JD mainly plays his man’s new song, or a record that somebody pays him to play.

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dAYUUUuUUuum Sandra why you hating on Solange and JD getting that Recession money!! people doing what they gotta do…nobody hating on you for jumping on the blog bandwagon to provide payments on the BENZ….

So @ardent you tellin me that you don’t think that Jagged Edge or Da Brat are accomplished artists?
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You better say that, cuz Jagged Edge is the only r&b group I mess with. I still buy every CD they make.

I think the digital world has alot to do with the downfalls of alot of people in the music business. There’s too much accessiblity with downloads, and the control has been taken out of the companies hands. And it will trickle down to the middle men (i.e. producers)and snowball from there. As an outsider looking in, its transparent to see how different the money was rolling in during the 90’s vs today. I just hope he has his money into different ventures but his passion is music and when you loose it, everything else will follow. Maybe he is taking it back to the root of things and regaining his passion #teamoptimist?

Let it be known that I put your email into FB and found your profile. I wanted to know if you looked like Squidward. Mystery solved. To the person who decided to email you #runtelldat. Folks playing double O negro on twitter atleast snitch the correct way. Give names and accurate details. Say VIBABY did it, so folks wont be pulling names of posters they dont like out their azz………Jesus wept.

@VIBABY
“Let it be known that I put your email into FB and found your profile. I wanted to know if you looked like Squidward. Mystery solved. To the person who decided to email you #runtelldat. Folks playing double O negro on twitter atleast snitch the correct way. Give names and accurate details. Say VIBABY did it, so folks wont be pulling names of posters they dont like out their azz………Jesus wept.”
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LOL!!! Oh, ok. You coulda just asked if it was all that. All good on my part.

Let it be known that I put your email into FB and found your profile. I wanted to know if you looked like Squidward. Mystery solved. To the person who decided to email you #runtelldat. Folks playing double O negro on twitter atleast snitch the correct way. Give names and accurate details. Say VIBABY did it, so folks wont be pulling names of posters they dont like out their azz………Jesus wept.
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What? What’d I miss?

everybody has their season, JD,Janet,Whitney, and a host of others have had theirs. he had it good when he was hot, and now it’s time to sit down and let someone take over. i am sure he isn’t broke and that he has some type of back up plan.

he EP janet album but jimmy jam and terry lewis still did the bulk of the writing i think he only did 1 to 2 songs on that album. the last album r&b album his team fully developed was mariah and ushers albums. at the end of the day he knows r&b and he can get millions out of mariah i think he can take dondria to gold with the right singles being released.

VIBABY says:
I aint flucking with ya’ll about JD…dude is fun sized.
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You know something? On second thought, he is the right height for some things. Wouldn’t take much effort. After all, his face IS already RIGHT there

@VIBABY
“Man must be in witness protection because there isnt nah pic of him…..”
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**evil ominous laugh**

I’ve had that experience before and that’s why I don’t fugg with Facebook. (See prior discussions with Florida Chick). But, it was there, if you went through any of the Friends photos. You would have been looking forever tho. HA HA HA.

Janet flopped because no one is checkin for her ass anymore. I guess people got tired of the low, soft whispering “singing” if you wanna call it that. Its kinda like blaming Rodney Jerkins for Brandy flopping.

Honeygrahm, lol they’re just trying to make small talk I ask them what country are they from and how do you say ‘Hello’ or ‘I Love You’ in their native language. I also ask them their ‘real’ name – girl, you know your momma ain’t named you no Cindy and your ass is from LAOS!

I visited with Ming Lee last week. I was p*ssed though cause only the Grandma was working and she took her slow as.s time. I sat down in the pedicure chair at 7:15, didnt walk out that bish til 9 :/ And It was a work night.

@OTB I never used to be like that. But the guy opened my eyes to a lot of things.. Ways to save money, this, that and the third. Its a MUST he has 3K in his wallet at all times. The savings account sits lovely too, so IM DEF. PICKING UP HIS HABITS!!!

“Man, I think Squidward is a cool-looking dude – not many cartoon characters can get away with wearing a shirt and no pants. #swag”-Ardentphotog
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You’ve said a lot of what so many of us have been thinking or wondering forever. there’s nothing wrong with scaling back, I mean the big companies have done it too. I believe JD is finding it hard to let go of and adapt to the changes in life period. Unlike Puffy though, his artist haven’t all walked away feeling like he effed them without lubrication.

JE, XSCAPE had some differences but none of them sat on the shelf to be unheard of again. So many of them have gone on to do other things. That’s all the credit I’ll give JD. You hit the nail on the head with the no name or unknown producer bit though. so right on the head. BCOX is the same way. we saw that on that first monica ‘still standing’ episode where bcox was at some spot chasing ass while the unknown songwriters and producers were back at the lab working on monica’s song.

So this explains why he’s a dj fa real. I’m still scratching my head to this one though. Janet has moved on JD, ya known adapting to her environment and making adjustments. It’s over. That bling bling nigga rich persona didn’t fit her tastes either. You got the girl and still didn’t change. Now what? Can you picture Russell Simmons or Babyface standing next to their blinged out hummber or bentley? to each their own.

To music industry ain’t the way it use to be, just like the dope game ain’t the way it use to be. Everything changes with time. Back in the 90’s there use to be a handful of acts that delivered the public hit after hit, entire albums with hits. And might I add that some of the memorable ones JD had his hands in it.

As far as blaming him for Janet’s failure. Janet had countless failures before he came along. Instead of people trying to blame him they should be thanking him for trying to help her. People are just not interested in Janet’s singing. Nobody want’s to hear someone whispering on a track for an entire album.

But yea, it’s too many people in the game trying to eat and not enough record sales to justify paying them. It’s time that all artist take their shows on the road, because that’s where the money is at. The label don’t get any of the show money.

@Ardent the shop I go to they all speak English well. We talk about the news, Price is Right (I go @ that time) what we are growing in our gardens etc. I love them! They don’t stay open all night and don’t try and force pedicures on you or act like they can’t speak English to trick you into getting something else. I go to the hood to get my $18 pedi’s and eyebrows waxed though. They charge $25 and they don’t wax.

Don’t get the Hummer! My bff’s cousin bought one and it’s been hell! First of all it gives like 10 mpg….and he’s had to have it fixed 4 times since he got it…and it’s been less than 2 years! I see them selling here in GA on every corner…I saw an H3 for $12,500…I’m thinking something gotta be wrong with it.

@ Ameera, Girl, he was on there talking about being married with a family and how they were trying to “impart” males as young as they could catch them, fuggin pedos, to get the gay out. He was going all off into how a straight man filling the tight, succulent, blah blah blah anus with his nectar would straighten them out. I’m like, what straight man describes another man’s ass that way?!

@Ardent for the best cheap pedi’s/eyebrows I go to Envy Nails on 23rd & Rhode Island next to Tate’s. For my nails I go to New York Nails it’s in MWC next to Weight watchers off Air Depot. They do good pedi’s too but I’m not giving them $25 for one. I HATE that place on 23rd & Kelley me & the owner got into it bcuz she flucked my cuticles up. The ppl @ Envy used to work for her.

This old co.ck sucker just came up to me talkin sh.it cause I did something wrong. But its really not that serious, an email would have been sufficient enough. But yet and still I looked at him, smiled like this and said (valley girl voice) “okay thanks, i’ll get right on that”

@flo girl u look too dam good to have low self esteem u look hooot!!! oh and otb and u are the pretty bishes up in sr fam yall on point lol no homo!! and yes they dont get no pussay and they acct an azz to us!!!

So i’m in the market of getting a new car too…my eyes are set on the Avalon, Maxima, Chrysler 300, or a Lexus ES…I need suggestions because I always go for style over substance…but this time I want both…

It’s ok Flo, that scar is just superficial. It’s the you on the inside that matters. I have a scar the length of my back from a surgery i had as a teen to correct my Scoliosis. It took me forever to get past it but, girl plz, now, I have my back out whenever I want and don’t give a damn. Ninjas be ignant though, I had a dumbass ass me if someone Flucked my up trying to kill me. His exact words. I’m glad a bish aint sensitive.

I am a black male that God has given a special gift to. Like the Etoro tribesmen of New Guinea, I am 100% heterosexual but I have sex with other men for spiritual reasons. When I ejaculate in man’s rectum, I impart my spiritual essence and strength to this man. I’ve tried to explain this to the women I date but they accuse me of being either bisexual or homosexual. They don’t understand that this is a spiritual mission and does not make me any less heterosexual or good marriage material. I belong to the Temple of Black Masculinity, we are over 45,000 deep and we follow the writings of Prophet Masculinity that teaches us that this gift is sacred and should be honored, However, many of us find that women simply don’t appreciate or make an effort to understand.

Yeah it was bad. I had 2 curves in my spine and they said I ran the risk of being a hunchback by the time I was 40 yrs old. My grandmother didn’t want me to have the surgery but, like I told her, I’m not trying to be deformed. Either way it goes, I was gonna be deformed with or without the surgery so, why not give myself a chance? They fixed the top one but couldnt do both so, I still have a 3″ curve in my lower spine. I’m healthy and I have no back problems so, I have no complaints.

One time me and boo were doin it (he was hittin it from the back) and he stopped and said “Do you have scoliosis??” I said “yea why, can you see it?” And he said “yup!” then we continued… When we were finished he was like “I do too!”

I actually was gonna grow to curve to the side and slightly forward and it was gonna get worse as I got older. Atleast with them fixing the upper curve, I don’t have to worry about becoming a deformed cripple.

ooo you are wrong for all the HATER in this posting. JD is not broke. He can’t be. He may not be getting as much money as he has in the past but he will always make money off the folks he has discovered who are still producing albums. AND I for one Love Dondria and I will be one of the first people to buy her album. That girl can Blow and her talent is not altured by that damn auto tune. She can sing in person as well as in the studio. Check her out on youtube!

I am a black male that God has given a special gift to. Like the Etoro tribesmen of New Guinea, I am 100% heterosexual but I have sex with other men for spiritual reasons. When I ejaculate in man’s rectum, I impart my spiritual essence and strength to this man. I’ve tried to explain this to the women I date but they accuse me of being either bisexual or homosexual. They don’t understand that this is a spiritual mission and does not make me any less heterosexual or good marriage material. I belong to the Temple of Black Masculinity, we are over 45,000 deep and we follow the writings of Prophet Masculinity that teaches us that this gift is sacred and should be honored, However, many of us find that women simply don’t appreciate or make an effort to understand.

Do you have any advice on how we can make women better understand?

O M G! What in the downlow hell is this shi.t? And is Tyler Perry the founder?

I am a black male that God has given a special gift to. Like the Etoro tribesmen of New Guinea, I am 100% heterosexual but I have sex with other men for spiritual reasons. When I ejaculate in man’s rectum, I impart my spiritual essence and strength to this man. I’ve tried to explain this to the women I date but they accuse me of being either bisexual or homosexual. They don’t understand that this is a spiritual mission and does not make me any less heterosexual or good marriage material. I belong to the Temple of Black Masculinity, we are over 45,000 deep and we follow the writings of Prophet Masculinity that teaches us that this gift is sacred and should be honored, However, many of us find that women simply don’t appreciate or make an effort to understand.

Do you have any advice on how we can make women better understand?

O M G! What in the downlow hell is this shi.t? And is Tyler Perry the founder?
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@MzD…The discs in my spine are degenerating L5 & L6 are degenerating…I’m weird to cause I have a 6th one and usually people have 5….its not so bad that I want surgery because there is noway to gaurantee that it will work…so I’m on 3 different meds

shaybytheway says:
Here is the gist of the impartation thing:
I am a black male that God has given a special gift to. Like the Etoro tribesmen of New Guinea, I am 100% heterosexual but I have sex with other men for spiritual reasons. When I ejaculate in man’s rectum, I impart my spiritual essence and strength to this man. I’ve tried to explain this to the women I date but they accuse me of being either bisexual or homosexual. They don’t understand that this is a spiritual mission and does not make me any less heterosexual or good marriage material. I belong to the Temple of Black Masculinity, we are over 45,000 deep and we follow the writings of Prophet Masculinity that teaches us that this gift is sacred and should be honored, However, many of us find that women simply don’t appreciate or make an effort to understand.
Do you have any advice on how we can make women better understand?
O M G! What in the downlow hell is this shi.t? And is Tyler Perry the founder?
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@MzD…The discs in my spine are degenerating L5 & L6 are degenerating…I’m weird to cause I have a 6th one and usually people have 5….its not so bad that I want surgery because there is noway to gaurantee that it will work…so I’m on 3 different meds
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MY MOM HAD SLIP AND BULDING DISC…SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWERS DISC NOT SURE WHATS THE NAME OF EM WITH A BONE FROM HER HIP WITH SCREWS…SHE HAS THE LEGAL HIGH WITH OXYICOTIN (THE HIGHEST LEVEL) AND MORPHINE PILLS. SOMETIMES SHE CANT EVEN GET OUT OF THE BED…POOR MOMMY..BUT WHEN I HAD A TOOTACHE AND WOULDNT STOP CRYING SHE GAVE ME HALF OF HER OXYICOTIN AND I SLEEP FOR 2 DAYS..NO B.S SHE WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE SHE WASNT SUPPOSE TO GIVE IT TO ME, BUT I KEPT CRYING..LOL

I am a black male that God has given a special gift to. Like the Etoro tribesmen of New Guinea, I am 100% heterosexual but I have sex with other men for spiritual reasons. When I ejaculate in man’s rectum, I impart my spiritual essence and strength to this man. I’ve tried to explain this to the women I date but they accuse me of being either bisexual or homosexual. They don’t understand that this is a spiritual mission and does not make me any less heterosexual or good marriage material. I belong to the Temple of Black Masculinity, we are over 45,000 deep and we follow the writings of Prophet Masculinity that teaches us that this gift is sacred and should be honored, However, many of us find that women simply don’t appreciate or make an effort to understand.

JD,Your contribution to my lifes soundtrack is not taken lightly, whether you produced it or found the people who produced it, you had your hand in making it happen. Nothing lasts forever, and whatever way your journey takes you…is where destiny has pre-ordained. Good luck to you and the talented Dondria.
It will come a time Ms. Rose, when you realize that the disrespect and evil comments and rumors you spread come at a cost, in this life or the next…sometimes you take it way to far. Mention Trey & Brandon (a KID whose career haven’t started) was jacked up…that is SOMEONES son…don’t disrespect him cause of what YOU think he is…

This was an interesting story. Some of these artist and producers have to take note. Teh money comes fast and it can leave just as fast. So they gotta keep busy. The music industry is a constant grind.

Even though Vibaby cleared it up already, whatever email you got wasn’t from me but I love how people wanna bring my name into **** when I’m not even on here like that anymore. Candi I already told your simple helmet wearing self to keep my name out your mouth. You don’t like me whatever, I could care less, the sun neither shines nor sets out your ass for me but don’t bring me up period and same thing for you Choco. You wanna be mad cause I called you out on the nastiness you infect this blog with daily cool, but lying on me when I’m not even here is just stupid. Act your age and stop trying to be the Kat Stacks of the blogging world #pleaseandthankyou